3 Ways Weather Cams Will Make Your Broadcasts Better

Does your network use live weather cams during broadcasts? If you don’t, you should start. Weather cams are a great way to show high definition video of your area. This has a ton of benefits for you and your viewers. Keep reading to find out the three biggest ways weather cams will make your broadcasts better.

1. Weather Cams Make Broadcasts More Engaging

The first major benefit to using weather cameras during your broadcast is because they make programs more engaging. Videos are some of the most engaging forms of content. Think about it as showing vs. telling. There is a big difference between telling your viewers that there’s a severe thunderstorm in a neighboring community and showing them live footage from said thunderstorm.

One difficulty that can arise from using weather cams is the quality. Today’s viewers pay more attention to video and sound quality than they have ever before. That’s why the best weather cameras are high-definition units that can withstand all sorts of severe weather.

You can also engage viewers by sharing weather camera streams on social media. Social video generates 1,200% more shares than text and images combined. Sharing these videos on social media can help you gather a greater audience. It can also help you warn viewers of incoming severe weather.

2. Weather Cams Make Broadcasts More Community-Oriented 

The second way weather cams make broadcast news programs better is because they demonstrate a strong relationship between your news station and the community you serve. Let’s demonstrate this point with an example.

Let’s pretend your areas receives a high rainfall amount during a strong system, resulting in flooding. You could present the flooding information and safety messages on top of an image of rain or while showing live video of the flood waters from your local HD weather camera. Which sounds more engaging? By showing live videos from your community, you prompt viewers to call others in the community who might not be watching to turn on their TVs, resulting in higher ratings.

3. Weather Cams Make Broadcasts Safer (and Cheaper!)

Finally, weather cams make your reports safer. A lot of times, bigger stations place on-air meteorologists in harm’s way during major weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes. Think of all the time you, your colleagues, or those in your industry stood on the beach while storm surge, lightning, and hail threatened them. Weather cameras remove that safety issue by keeping you indoors while still showing the dangerous and interesting weather events as they happen.

Weather cams also make broadcasts less expensive. A lot of times, bigger stations will send helicopters to report on weather events and damage. Weather cams eliminate the need for this expensive transportation equipment. This is because you can see everything you want to broadcast without leaving the studio.

But We Can’t Afford Quality Cameras!

It’s true: HD cameras can be pricey. Alternatively, tapping into a network of already-established HD cameras is a lot easier on your wallet. Our network of weather cameras allows broadcasters to get the most bang for their buck while reporting on the weather. Check out our broadcast solutions today and see just how affordable a HD weather camera is.